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THE REVIEW
Wow!... Katatonia
Wow!... Brave Murder Day
Wow!... Opeth.
Wow!... Blackwater Park
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After this comprehensive review, let's try to explain who Opeth are.
Four young Swedes influenced by the very early Entombed form a Swedish death metal band and seem destined for an ordinary musical career in the vast world of death metal, with no hope of emerging from the mire in which they are immersed. They release three decent albums from '95 to '98, where the genius of Mikael Akerfeldt, the thinking mind of these Opeth, can already be glimpsed, but no one notices them, much less success.
In 1999, there is a record label change from Candlelight to Peaceville (a true discoverer of talents such as Anathema or My Dying Bride), and the fourth album "Still Life" arrives. And Opeth explode (poor guys...). The beauty of this masterpiece catapults them beyond national borders and makes them known worldwide as proponents of a progressive death metal slightly influenced by baroque sounds, thus making their proposal unique, coming from a country where, without any warning, melodious death bands began to emerge like a production line after the success achieved by At The Gates with Slaughter of The Soul.
Therefore, Opeth, having reached their peak of composition, could well stop here.
Then someone lends them any of the first CDs of Katatonia and Opeth become a cover band of their older brothers. The songs, if anyone thought it wasn't possible, become even longer (10 minutes on average), more psychedelic, more expanded, and perhaps even more beautiful but certainly less original (these things were already done decades ago by Pink Floyd and more recently by Katatonia) and less immediate.
It is useless to deny the beauty of some acoustic guitar arrangements or the splendid clean vocals of Akerfeldt, the more intense moments where the same sweet voice that delighted us until a few seconds ago has transformed into a growl of devastating power, but...
For two years I've been trying to figure out if this CD is a masterpiece or a simple copy, and I still haven't succeeded.
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Summary by Bot
The review examines Opeth's album Blackwater Park, noting its beautiful acoustic moments and powerful vocals. It discusses the band's progression from death metal roots to a more progressive, psychedelic style influenced by Katatonia and Pink Floyd. While the album's beauty is undeniable, the reviewer remains uncertain whether it is a masterpiece or simply a well-executed copy.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Other reviews
By TheSilentMan
Opeth crafts an almost perfect album that takes us to this dark park seemingly populated by elusive, melancholic presences, yet also filled with anger and pain.
Highly recommended for those who love a “progressive” genre of music that is very well played and loaded with emotions as well as technicalities and showmanship.
By OzzyRotten
"'Blackwater Park' as a title magnificently captures the entire atmosphere that permeates the album."
"A brutal and murderous yet pleasant disease; a sweet torture that requires the necessary attitude and growing passion for things wrapped in the fog of memories and disillusionments."
By Hellring
Mikael Åkerfeldt’s voice effortlessly shifts from soft tones to terrifying growls without losing credibility.
Blackwater Park is an album full of surprises, which does not disappoint the expectations of those who demand quality music.
